Electrical regulation system



March 27, 1951 s. v. HART 2,546,926

ELECTRICAL REgULATION SYSTEM Filed Dec. 30, 1948 INVENTOR STEPHE VI HART ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 27 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Stephen V. Hart, Haddonfield, N. 3., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 30, 1948 Serial'No. 68,277

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in electrical regulation systems, and more particularly to an improved method of and apparatus for regulating current flow in gaseous discharge tubes, as, for example, in power control networks and the like.

It is well known that gaseous discharge tubes, operated with alternating anode voltage, are suitable for use in power control systems; in which a load device may be connected either directly or indirectly in the anode circuit of the tube, the usual arrangement being such that variable voltage is applied to the control electrode of the tube to adjust the firing point for the tube (i. e. the point in each positive half-cycle of anode voltage at which the tube conducts current). Where an alternating anode voltage is used, it is theoretically possible to vary the total anode current between zero and an upper limit corresponding to conduction during all, or substantially all, of each positive half cycle of anode voltage. Both D. C. and .A. C. control voltages have been used to adjust/the firing'point In systems of the foregoing type, but, 'aswill be'brought outrnore fully hereinaftenvarious 'difiiculties and limitations have been encountered in the majority of the'pr'ior'art systems.

It is one object of the invention to provide an improved method of and means for controlling the operation of a gaseous discharge tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and means for regulating CUIIBIltIfiOWlIl a gaseous discharge tube.

Another object of the invention is :to :provide an improved network for regulating the transfer of power through a gaseous discharge tube to ;a load device.

According to the invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by utilizing .the vector sum of two alternating voltages to control the firing point of a gaseous discharge tube which is operating on alternating anode voltage. One of the control voltages is preferably of fixed magnitude and constant phase, leading or lagging the second control voltage by an appreciable angle, while the second control voltage is also of constant phase but of variable magnitude. A's'will be brought out more fully hereinafter, the foregoing arrangement not only provides for firing 'point adjustment throughout a range equal to the phase difference between the two control voltages, together with precision control of the firing'p'oint, but alsopermits the use of a variable control voltage which isin phase with, and may 'be'taken from the same source .as, the anode voltage. As will be shown, the latter feature is an extremely useful one for some applications.

.A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description of illustrative embodiments thereof when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

.Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gaseous discharge :tube control network arrangedginaccordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a chart illustrating the operation of the networks shown in Figs. 1 and 4,

Fig. 3 is a vector diagram of the voltages in the networks of Figs. land 4, and

4 is a schematic diagram showing a network embodying the features of the invention as applied to a temperature control system.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown a control network comprising .a gaseous discharge tube It! adapted to be supplied with alternating anode voltage from one section [2 of the secondary winding of a transformer 14, through ,any suitable load device IS. A second section 20 of the secondary Winding of the transformer [4, together with a phase shifting circuit, including a resistor 22 and a capacitor 2 2-, serve as one source of control voltage for the tube Hi, while a second control voltage may be applied through a pair of input terminals 2-6.

As is well known, if an alternating voltage is applied across a gaseous discharge tube, the tube can conduct current only during positive half cycles of anode voltage. Moreover, conduction in the tube can be prevented by holding the control electrode of the tube below a certain voltage, which will be referred to hereinafter as the critical control electrode voltage for the tube. This is illustrated in the graph of Fig. 2, wherein thereare shown certain of the operating characteristics-of the network of Fig. .1.

In Fig. 2, the curve .30 represents an alternating anode voltage for a gaseous discharge tube, while the broken-line curve 32 indicates the critical control electrode voltage for the tube. If the control electrode voltage goes above the level indicated by the curve 32, the tube will fire during the remainder of the corresponding positive'half-cycle of anode voltage.

'It has already been proposed to utilize a variable D. 'C. voltage as the control voltage for a gas tube so that the firing point of the tube can be varied. However, such an arrangement is objectionable for the reason that precise control of the firing point cannot be obtained therewith. This results from the fact that the critical control electrode voltage, shown by the curve 32 in Fig. 2, is not as precise or exact as the theoretical drawing would indicate. If the temperature of the tube cathode varies, or if spurious signals occur in the tube circuits, the exact point at which the tube will fire becomes uncertain. Accordingly, it has been proposed to utilize an alternating control voltage which will cross the critical voltage curve 32 at a steep angle, in order to ensure that the tube will fire exactly at the desired point. However, the use of a single alternating control voltage does not completely solve the difiiculties outlined above. If a single alternating voltage of fixed phase and variable magnitude is used to adjust the firing point, either the available firing point range is extremely limited, or the same uncertainty encountered with a D. C. control voltage will arise. For this reason, it has generally been felt that a control voltage of Variable phase is preferable, since a variable-phase control voltage can be shifted across the entire range of positive half cycles of anode voltage, while always crossing the critical voltage curve 32 at a steep angle. On the other hand, it is not always convenient to provide a single, variable-phase control voltage for the system.

The network shown in Fig. 1 largely avoids all of the foregoing difficulties by utilizing the vector sum of two control voltages to regulate the firing point of the tube Hi. The first control voltage is obtained from the phase shifting network 22, 24, and is of fixed magnitude and constant phase, leading or lagging the second control voltage by a substantial angle, preferably slightly less than 180 degrees. As is well known, the phase shifting network 22, 24 can be adjusted, by varying the impedance of the resistor 22 with respect to the impedance of thecapacitor 24, so that the voltage from the phase shifting network 22, 213 will lead or lag the voltage across the first section 92 of the secondary winding of the transformer H! by an angle between zero and slightly less than 180.

The second control voltage for the network of Fig. 1 may be obtained from the same source as the anode voltage, or may be obtained from a separate source. For example, the second control voltage may be taken across an impedance it connected in parallel with the primary winding l3 of the transformer I l. As was mentioned, the second control voltage should either lead or lag the first control voltage by an appreciable amount. By way of illustration, let it be assumed that the impedance of the resistor 22 is much larger than that of the capacitor it, so that the voltage from the phase shifting network 22, 24 in Fig. 1 will lag the anode voltage by approximately 170 degrees. The second control voltage, across the terminals 26, is assumed to be in phase with the anode voltage. Under these conditions, the resultant control voltage at the grid of the tube Hi can be shifted in phase by varying the magnitude of the second control voltage, as is shown vectorially in Fig. 3. a

In Fig. 3, the vector ltl represents the anode voltage for the tube Ill in Fig. 1. The vector 42 represents the fixed-phase control voltage from the phasingcircuit 22, 2d of Fig. 1 and the vectors :i ia, Mb, and l icrepresent second control volt.- ages, of different magnitudes, across the terminals 26. The vectors 52, 54, and 56 represent the resultant control voltage at the grid of the tube ill in Fig. 1 for the combination of the vector 42 and the vectors 4 3a, MI) and Mo, respectively. As is shown in Fig. 3, variations in the magnitude of the second control voltage result in an effective phase shift of the resultant control voltage, while neither of the separate control voltages need be shifted in phase.

The effect of the resultant control voltages 52, 54, and 56, on the tube iii in the circuit of Fig. l, is shown on the graph of Fig. 2 by the curves 52, I54 and i556. As each of the different resultant control voltages 52, 54, and 55 is applied to the grid of the tube I!) in Fig. 1, the tube will conduct current during the intervals of positive half-cycles of anode voltage from n to ts, 152 to te, and ts to 156, respectively. It will be noted that the control voltages I52, Hi l and 556 cross the critical voltage curve 32 at slightly different angles, due to the varying magnitudes of the resultant control voltages. However, the circuit operation will not be effected by such variations in resultant control voltage magnitude, provided the component control voltages are sufilciently large to pro vide an appreciable resultant control voltage.

In Fig. 4, there is shown the schematic diagram of a temperature control network embodying the features of the invention. In the network of Fig. 4, a heating element at is connected in the anode circuit of a gaseous discharge tube it, so that the amount of current flowing through the element E i can be regulated by adjusting the firing point of the tube it. The heating element 64 may be located in any heat unit ill, such as an electric oven or the like. The temperature of the heat unit 70 will be dependent upon the amount of current flow through the heating element 6 3, so that the temperature of the heat unit it can be regulated by adjusting the current flow through the tube I0.

As in the circuit of Fig. l, the firing point of the tube It in Fig. 4 is determined by the vector sum of two control voltages, one of which is obtained from one section 20 of the secondary winding of the transformer Id and a phase shifting circuit 22, 2t. Thesecond control voltage is developed between two of the terminals l2, N3 of a conventional bridge circuit 66, which is connected across the supply lines 68, G9. The bridge 76 comprises four impedance elements such as the resistors i6, 86, 82, 84 connected as two parallel impedance branches in the usual manner.

One of the elements it of the bridge 76 is a socalled thermistor (i. e., a resistor whose value varies with temperature), which is located within the housing or other enclosing structure of the heat unit 10. The element'lfi is adapted to respond to variation in temperature in the heat unit it! and to increase or decrease in resistance in accordance with variations in temperature of the heat unit it. The element '58 may have either a positive or negative temperature coefficient, depending on the particular way the circuit is arranged. As will be explained, the bridge it can be adjusted so that any variation in the temperature at the heat unit it will produce a change in the voltage between the terminals l2, M orthe bridge 70, which will, in turn, produce a compensating change in the current flow through th tube l0.

Designating the magnitudes of the bridge elements 18, 80, 82, and 8d as R1, R2, R3 and R4, re,- spectively, it is well known that the bridge 16 aerate-e Also, when R1 is less than a voltage will appear between the terminals '12, which will be in phase with the voltage across the supply lines 68, 69, and when R1 is greater than R R R3 a voltage will appear between the terminals i2, 14 which will be 180 degrees out of phase with the voltage across the supply lines 88, B9. In either event, the magnitude of any voltage appearing between the two terminals l2, M will be dependent upon the magnitude R1 of the element 18.

In the illustrative network of Fig. 4, the element 18 should have a positive temperature coefficient, so that the impedance of the element 18 decreases in magnitude when the temperature at the heat unit 3'0 decreases, and increases when the temperature at the heat unit rises. The vector diagram of Fig. 3 and the operating chart of Fig. 2 will be referred to in explaining the operation of the network shown in Fig. 4.

It is assumed that the transformer 34 in Fig. 4 is so connected that the voltage across the first section 12 of the secondary winding is in phase with the voltage across the primary winding l3 and the supply lines 63, 59. In Fig. 3, the vector may represent the voltage across the primary winding 13 and the first section E2 of the secondary winding of the transformer 54 in Fig. 4. It is also assumed that the phase shift circuit 22, 24 in Fig. 4 will introduce a phase lag of approximately 170 in voltages passing therethrough, so that the output voltage from the phase shift circuit 22, 24 may be represented by the vector 42 in Fig. 3.

When power is first applied to the network of Fig. 4 through the supply lines 68, 69, the element 18 will be cold and will, therefore, have a low impedance. The bridge '15 will be unbalanced in a direction to cause a large voltage, in phase with the supply voltage, to appear between the terminals l2, 74 of the bridge. The voltage between the terminals 12, 14 of the bridge 16 at this time may be represented by the vector 440 in Fig. 3. Accordingly, the firing point for the tube It in the circuit of Fig. 4 will occur near the beginning of each positive half cycle of anode voltage (at the time 151, as shown by the curve I56 in Fig. 2), so that a large average current will flow through the tube It and, hence, through the heating element 64. As the temperature in the heat unit 10 rises, the impedance of the element 78 in the bridge 16 will gradually increase, causin a decrease in the voltage between the terminals 12, 14 of the bridge l6. As the voltage across the terminals l2, 14 decreases, the vectorresultant voltage at the grid of the tube [9 will lag the plate voltage by an increasing amount, shifting the firing point for the tube It (to the right in Fig. 2) and causing the tube It) to conduct current during a decreasing portion of each positive half cycle of anode voltage, until conditions become balanced in the network at some predetermined temperature. Thereafter, any change in the temperature in the heat unit 10 will produce a compensating change in the Voltage between the bridge terminals 12, H, with a correspondin phase shift in the resultant voltage at the grid of the tube H] in Fig. 4. The exact heat unit temperature at which the network of Fig. 4 will become stabilized will depend on the temperature response characteristics of the element 18. In'the event that the temperature at the heat unit 19 becomes so high that the impedahce R1 of the element 18 is more than as previously designated, then the voltage between the terminals 12, M of the bridge 16 will be out of phase with the anode voltage on the tube l0. This out-of-phase voltage from the bridge 16 may be represented by the vector Md in Fig. 3, and the resultant-vector control voltage at the grid of the tube if] in Fig. 4 may be represented by the vector 51' in Fig. 3. In this case, the firing point for the tube IE3 in Fig. 4 will be shifted still further to the right (to the point is, for example) on the chart of Fig. 2, wherein the resultant voltage corresponding to the vector 51 is represented by the curve I51. This will result in a further decrease in the current through the tube Ill, and, hence, a decrease in the current through the heating element 84 in Fig. 4. Thus, the network of Fig. 4 is adapted to provide precise, continuous control of the current through the tube H3 across substantially the entire available current range.

It should be noted that the network of Fig. 4 permits the use of fixed phase control voltages,

one of which is in phase with, and can be conveniently derived from, the same source as the load voltage. Moreover, the use of a vector-resultant control voltage eliminates the necessity for awkward variable-phase-shift networks, such as would be required if a single control voltage were used.

Since modifications and changes could be made in the circuits shown and described, within the scope and spirit of the invention, the foregoing is to be construed as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A network for regulatin power transfer from a source of alternating electric power to a load device through a gaseous discharge tube of the type having an anode, a cathode, and a control grid, said network comprising, a transformer having (1) a primary winding adapted to be connected to said source, and (2) a two-section secondary winding, an anode-to-cathode circuit for said tube, said circuit including said load device and one section of said secondar winding, a variable impedance element connected in parallel with said primary winding, and a gridto-cathode circuit for said tube, said grid-t0- cathode circuit consisting of (l) the other ection of said secondary winding, (2) phase-shifting means connected in parallel with said other secondary windin section, and (3) said variable impedance element.

2. A network for regulating power transfer from a source of alternating electric power to a heating element, said network comprising a gaseous-discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, and a control electrode, a transformer having (1) a primary winding connected to said source, and (2) a two-section secondary winding, a plate to-cathode circuit for said tube, said circuit including (1) one section of said transformer secondary winding, and (2) said heating element,

an impedance bridge comprising parallel impedance branches, each of said impedance branches consisting of series connected impedances, one of said impedances comprising a thermally responsive resistor in heat transfer relation with said heatin element, a grid-t0- cathode circuit for said tube, said grid-tocathode circuit includin (1) the other section of said transformer secondary winding, (2) phaseshifting means in parallel with said other winding section, and (3) said one impedance, and connections from the junctions between adjacent impedances in two of said branches and said primary Winding.

' STEPHEN V. HART.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,294 Hall Dec. 4, 1928 7 1,857,174 Zucker May 10, 1932 1,970,427 Lewin Aug. 14, 1934 2,030,100 Dawson c Feb. 11, 1936 2,467,856 Rich Apr. 19, 1949 

